Largest Supermarket Chain in the World puts Babywearing on the Map

        Let me start by saying that this will not be a discussion on the ethics of Walmart and its' owners. I have always gone to Walmart to shop due to ease, regardless of how I feel about the other shoppers I surround myself with.

         Now, Walmart is getting attention for a whole new reason. Babywearing parents are lifting the supermarket chain up in celebration for taking on Chimparoo, a French Canadian baby carrier design and manufacturing company. Their shelves are now stocked with cross-twill woven wraps by Chimparoo, which have been revered as being lovely and worth the investment by the babywearing community for years.

        Despite the positive attention babywearing has received in the recent decades, many parents still claim to be stared at and even approached by strangers who believe that babywearing must be for lower class families and that wraps are "cuts of tablecloth". As an avid babywearer myself, I always try to answer questioning looks and questions about babywearing when I am out in public, because knowledge is power. There will come a day when no one questions or stares because it will be a societal norm, and that day will come much sooner with the help of this marriage of Walmart and Chimparoo woven wraps.

        I truly believe that Walmart, yes Walmart, is doing a noble a good thing here by giving access of the art of babywearing to such a broad range of people, and I hope to see more mothers and fathers wrapping their baby close enough to kiss.

        My favorite part of the listing is this "Woven in cross twill certified free from toxic chemicals- The woven wrap is the preferred choice for those who want to wear their child from birth until about 34 years of age, and who plan to carry their baby frequently for long periods of time". Legitimately laughing out loud over here! 

Favorite typo ever.

        This typo (or is it?) gives truth to the favorite babywearing meme of the moment:

       

American Baby magazine's Babywearing Safety Controversy

       

        To the untrained eye, this May cover of american Baby magazine may simply depict a modern mother wearing her infant while taking a stroll. However, the babywearing community is ablaze with talk of how incorrectly the child is wrapped. Of course, in a modeling/photo shoot environment they aren't exactly looking for the manual for the wrap in order to showcase it correctly. In fact, like most new mothers or simply new-to-babywearing mothers, it was probably just a moment of "I can do this myself". Unfortunately, this incident has made American Baby slightly less reputable as far as where they're gathering information from.

        Fortunately, the backlash from their cover caused American Baby to make a public apology which hopefully reaches those parents who are babywearing beginners and have seen the photo thinking it is the proper way to carry a baby.

        Here is the apology statement that American Baby released on Monday:

Thank you for your messages about our May cover. We love that American Baby has such well-informed fans, and we regret that the infant pictured wasn't wrapped properly. We're studying up on the technique now and will use what we learn to plan a story on baby-wearing safety in an upcoming issue. Please keep reading—and commenting on—AB!

Sincerely, 

The Editors of American Baby

        In the next issue of American Baby, they intend to include a spread about how to safely babywear, which is a great step forward and will hopefully encourage more parents to learn about how to keep their baby close. Let's just hope they include TICKS guidelines:

T– Tight, The importance of a sling or carrier being tight is to hold a baby safely against the wearer, it supports the spine in a straight-upright position and stops baby from falling out of the wrap or carrier accidentally.

I– In view at all times, Seeing your baby at all times allows you to be constantly monitoring your child’s breathing and general demeanor, you will have the ability to make sure the chin hasn’t dropped and they are happy. You will also be able to check temperature and feeding cues.

C– Close enough to kiss, This is greatly important also, as the lower the child the less you will be able to tell about your child, placed in an upright position you should be able to lower your head and kiss the top of babies head, if you are unable to do this, then it’s advised your re-position your child higher.

K– Keep chin off chest, if your child is tight, in an upright position and spine is curved with legs in the squat position the likelihood of the chin dropping is unlikely, this is the most optimum position for safety, development and comfort. The rule of thumb is a child should have a gap of roughly 2 fingers width underneath their chin.

S– Supported back, the tightness of any carrier will be crucial in the support of a babies spine, it’s also important not to over tighten. The carrier should be tight enough to keep the child against the parents body without a gap, but still have the ability to slide your hands into the carrier with ease if needed. Generally in an upright position, if the carrier is adequately supporting the spine the chin will not drop, but its important to follow all the steps carefully.

        There are many more aspects to safety when wearing your child, however these are the most basic and most crucial, if you feel unsure if your carrier supports these guidelines it is advised you seek further advise either from your local sling library, babywearing consultant, or babywearing group. Never be afraid to ask questions!

        Also, here is a side-by-side photo of a correctly wrapped infant just for kicks:

Babywearing Dads

        More and more on my babywearing groups and social media, I am seeing beautiful photos of fathers wearing their children. However, iStock Photo still only has images of a mother babywearing in their archives. The more positive recognition that babywearing itself receives the more comfortable people become with it, such as it's association with the recently trending topic of attachment parenting. 
        Personally, I never saw any reason not to babywear once I discovered its benefits. Benefits such as promoting closeness and calmness with both parents equally, nine months in the womb nine months skin-to-skin, and even advanced healing properties. However, some mothers and especially fathers seem to be uncomfortable with wearing their baby in the view of the public eye. Some parents worry that a baby who is constantly held or worn will become a fussy baby, always crying for attention. Actually, the opposite seems to be true. In cultures where babies are constantly in the arms of caregivers, infant crying spells are virtually unheard of. A study in North America showed that babies cried less when parents were instructed to wear or carry them for several "extra" hours each day.
        As with most aspects of parenting, you can meet some pretty unsavory opinions on whether or not you're thinking about your child's safety. Which, I'm willing to bet that most of you are each and every minute. Babywearing is not a danger to you or your baby if it done correctly and with the right amount of preparation. Like with all things, only in moderation and with proper instruction.
        I think the movement of babywearing becoming more prominent in fathers of modern day is a wonderful message of how our children will treat their own children.
        Here is my own babywearing husband with our daughter Lily:

        Here are some other awesome babywearing dads that prove there are good men out there, from one of my favorite Tumblrs, Babywearing Dads:

'Frozen' In My Tracks

        Since Frozen is being released on Netflix this week (a million children just squealed simultaneously), I decided to dedicate an article to this latest crazy train that moms around the world have jumped on.

        When I was a little girl, princesses were all the rage. Nowadays, the rage had turned into a feeding frenzy. With the 2013 release of Disney's Frozen, the princess-centric Disney culture seemed to be fully revived to the days of Cinderella and Belle. A few months later, and Disney stores literally cannot keep Frozen merchandise on the shelves. The demand is so intense, many parents are willing to dive to "Black Friday-esque" depths in order to please their children. 
        My opinion is that Disney has been reaching for the original princess movie audiences of yesteryear with recent anti-princess films such as: Brave, The Princess and The Frog, and Tangled. I also think that Tangled has hit closest to the mark as far as compelling their market. But Frozen seriously has hit it out of the park by appealing to all three children movie markets: parents, little boys, and little girls. The family and sisterly love theme of Frozen definitely drew the parents in, Olaf the Snowman seems to be a huge hit with little boys, and hardest to please of all, little girls are absolutely obsessed with Elsa and Anna. 
        So, what isn't there to love about Frozen? Not much. As a stay at home mom to a three month old, I've already watched it about ten times of my own accord. I know I'll regret it when she finds her attention fixated on some kind of singing zombie princess movie that Pixar churns out in 8 years. But until then, I'll just keep being a big ole' kid... or princess, rather.
        My mom-session with this kids' movie is not limited to simply watching it on a loop, I have dreams... Dreams that one day there will be a Frozen wrap that I can babywear with. In case you're looking to make me one and be eternally loved by me, I think this print would be awesome:

        Or, at least I could grab a Natibaby in Magic Carbo and customize it myself... so many options!

        And, Tula just released a Woven Wrap and Wrap Conversion in "Elsa"! How perfect!

        I also happen to be sucker for modern songs turned into lullabies. It's a simple change that new parents will thank their ears for, and luckily they've already done it the Frozen soundtrack:

'Frozen' soundtrack Lullabies

The Moby Wrap Vs. The Ergobaby Wrap

        A good wrap/carrier should fit like a good bra, at least that's always been my opinion. Where as an over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder comes in different cup sizes, a wrap comes in many lengths.

There are three factors that you might consider in choosing the size of your wrap:
1. How you plan to use your wrap (e.g., which carrying positions you want to use)---this is by far the most important consideration;
2. Your size (height and weight)---this can play a role depending on #1; and
3. Your baby's size---surprisingly, this hardly matters at all. It's a good thing, too, because babies tend to change size rapidly.

        My very first baby wrap was a Moby, gifted to me at my Halloween-themed baby shower, and it was definitely my most-used present as I discovered the joys of babywearing. After using the Moby for Lily until she was three months old, I then found the Ergo baby wrap. 
        The main difference between the two is that the Ergobaby Wrap has a "4D stretch" material (explains the 5% spandex that Moby does not have) which is a sort of extra layer over the front of the wrap that will be up against your little one. I have heard that this extra piece of material makes for a better seat than the Moby, which means no hassle of repositioning and rewrapping. However, it is always in how well you wrap that provides a sturdy seat for your baby. 
        The weight limits of both wraps end around 35-45 lbs making them pretty equal in that respect. Both wraps claim to "grow with your baby", a definite plus for the economical mother.
        Overall, I much prefer the Ergobaby Wrap for my 11 pounder, since hug hold is her absolute favorite and she sleeps longer in the Ergobaby wrap because I don't have to unwrap and rewrap when I'm wearing her around the house.

Moby Wrap in action!

The Ergobaby Wrap:

•  The right amount of stretch makes it easy to tie right.
• Doesn’t sag throughout the day from baby’s weight.
• Moves in every direction with you and your baby.
• 95% Cotton, 5% Spandex
• Machine washable

The Moby wrap:

• Perfect for babies 8-35 lbs
• 100% natural cotton
• Machine washable
• Encourages parent/child bonding
• Adjusts to grow with your baby
• Petite and plus size friendly

I have provided several links for you to find your wrap, buy, and use it so please make use of them!


The Babywearer Chart of Wrap Styles w/ Lengths

Where to buy the Moby Wrap

Where to buy the Ergo Wrap

How to tie the Ergo Wrap (Newborn)

How to tie the Moby Wrap (Newborn Hug Hold)